Latest news with #NationalTrafficPolice
IOL News
24-04-2025
- IOL News
Mercedes-Benz driver arrested for speeding on the N1 near Bela-Bela
Speeding and bribery incidents rise in Limpopo as traffic police arrest multiple offenders, including a Mercedes-Benz driver caught travelling at 176km/h. Image: File A Mercedes-Benz driver was arrested for speeding on the N1 near Bela-Bela on Wednesday, highlighting the province's ongoing battle with speedsters. The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety said: 'Early morning justice caught up with a driver on April 23, when a 34-year-old man was arrested on the N1 freeway near Bela-Bela, in the Waterberg District, for clocking 176km/h in a 120km/h zone. The driver will face the law at the Bela-Bela Magistrate's Court.' The department said excessive speed endangers everyone, reducing reaction time and increasing stopping distance, leading to devastating crashes. Consider the impact on families and loved ones if a tragedy were to occur. The arrest comes after three intoxicated drivers were nabbed in separate incidents for attempting to bribe traffic officials during Easter operations. In a press release on Sunday, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said the number of drunken driving arrests in Limpopo had risen following the arrest of two additional drivers attempting to bribe traffic officers. Members of the National Traffic Police apprehended the motorists who tried to evade a drunken driving charge by offering cash to officers. This follows the arrest of another driver in Mokopane for the same charge. He was arrested on Good Friday morning by National Traffic Police officers after being stopped on the N1. He attempted to bribe the officers with R300 after he was found intoxicated.
eNCA
21-04-2025
- eNCA
No single Easter fatality on the N1 route in Limpopo
JOHANNESBURG - The Transport Department Minister Babra Creecy says that there have been no fatalities on the N1. She revealed this on Monday as she gave an update on the department's Easter Road Safety Campaign. According to the minister these outcomes proves the effectiveness of law enforcement and their deployment plan in improving road safety. While the complete Easter road statistics are not yet Creecy painted a positive image citing that there was a decrease in drop in both crashes and fatalities. Meanwhile Creecy noted with concern the arrest of a suspect in Mokopane, Polokwane, who allegedly attempted to bribe a National Traffic Police officer to avoid charges related to drunk driving. She said this suspect will appear court soon.
IOL News
21-04-2025
- IOL News
Traffic officers apprehend drunk drivers attempting bribery in Limpopo
Three drunk drivers who attempted to bribe traffic officers have been arrested in separate incidents in Limpopo. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy elaborated on the issue when she and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa gave an update on the Easter road safety campaign during a media briefing on the N1 in the Waterberg District in Limpopo on Monday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Initially, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) issued a press release on Sunday stating that the number of drunken driving arrests in Limpopo had risen following the arrest of two additional drivers attempting to bribe traffic officers. 'Members of the National Traffic Police handcuffed the motorists who tried to evade a charge of drunken driving by offering cash to officers,' the RTMC said. 'This brings to three the number of motorists arrested in this province for bribery. This follows the arrest of another driver in Mokopane for the same charge.' The first driver was arrested on Good Friday morning by National Traffic Police officers. The driver was stopped on the N1. He attempted to bribe the officers with R300 to overlook the offence after they discovered he was intoxicated. The RTMC applauded the officers for their commitment to road safety and their refusal to be compromised. Adding her voice, Creecy confirmed that a driver was arrested in Mokopane on Sunday for attempting to bribe a national traffic officer when he was found driving drunk. She said the driver will appear in court soon on charges of bribery, corruption and drunk driving. 'I wish to commend the officers who effected this arrest because they have shown that they are professionals performing their duties with the highest level of ethics, discipline and integrity, and I trust that officers will adopt such exemplary attitudes to restore public confidence in our law enforcement authorities,' Creecy said. 'I am delighted to hear that now we are arresting people for attempting to bribe traffic officers because we want to restore faith in road traffic management in our country.' Creecy noted that although the volume of vehicles peaked at 2,047 vehicles an hour on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, the N1 has not yet experienced a single fatal crash. 'This is a rare occurrence on this route and it speaks of the effectiveness of our law enforcement and deployment plan in improving road safety outcomes,' Creecy said. She extended her thanks to Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC Violet Mathye and her team for their incredible work throughout the weekend in keeping people safe here on the N1 and on other routes in Limpopo.
The Citizen
21-04-2025
- The Citizen
Easter road fatalities and accidents on the decline, says Creecy
The N1 has not recorded a single fatal crash. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says road deaths and accidents are on the decline as motorists return home after the Easter long weekend. Creecy, accompanied by her deputy Mkhuleko Hlengwa, held a media briefing along the N1 in Limpopo on Monday to provide an update on road safety operations conducted during the Easter period. Creery reveals zero fatal crashes on N1 during Easter weekend The minister said during the press conference that although traffic volumes peaked at 2 047 vehicles per hour on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, the N1 has not recorded a single fatal crash despite being one of the busiest routes in the country. 'This is a rare occurrence on this route, and it speaks of the effectiveness of our law enforcement and deployment plan in improving road safety outcomes,' Creecy said. ALSO READ: Easter road safety: Over 600 drunk driving arrests as authorities clamp down across provinces She also confirmed the arrest of a suspect in Mokopane, Polokwane, who allegedly attempted to bribe a National Traffic Police officer to avoid charges related to drunk driving. The suspect is expected to appear in court next week. Watch the briefing below: Easter road statistics under review – Creecy Creecy indicated that the complete Easter road statistics are not yet available as they are still undergoing quality assurance and verification. 'Early indications are that our road safety campaign is holding strong, and the public has responded positively to our messages. 'I don't want to issue statistics at this stage. I would prefer to issue them once the Easter weekend is concluded because I don't want to jinx the very good record that we have had so far.' READ MORE: Easter weekend turns tragic as multiple accidents claim lives across SA roads Preliminary data, however, shows a significant drop in both crashes and fatalities across all provinces – except Mpumalanga. 'As you know there was one very serious accident on Thursday evening and there have been other fatal accidents in that province.' According to the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, 18 people lost their lives in multiple road crashes between 17 and 19 April. In contrast, Limpopo has recorded the lowest number of crashes and fatalities so far. Thousands of vehicles stopped and fined Over the Easter weekend, 70 000 vehicles were stopped by law enforcement officers. This resulted in 21 000 traffic fines and 512 arrests for various offences including drunk driving, excessive speeding, and operating without proper permits. 'We take those violations very, very seriously and there were other people where there were outstanding warrants of arrest that were also arrested,' Creecy said. READ MORE: Guns, booze and border busts: Limpopo's 4 600 Easter arrests Six pedestrians were arrested for jaywalking. The highest number of drunk drivers was recorded in the Eastern Cape, where an additional 111 motorists were arrested. 'Last weekend, I spoke about somebody we arrested in Port St. John's who was nine times over the legal limit. I don't know whether it's a competition, but we've now arrested somebody who was 10 times over the legal limit.' Total fines, arrests Since 20 March, authorities have stopped over 782 000 vehicles and issued 116 000 traffic fines. More than 3 500 drivers were arrested for a range of offences, while 89 pedestrians have been arrested for walking on highways. 'We will not allow people to walk on highways. It endangers their own lives and of course when you are driving at high speed if you collide with a pedestrian it's going to endanger the lives of everybody in that vehicle.' Additionally, 2 200 unroadworthy vehicles were taken off the roads, and 2 500 more were impounded for violating the National Land Transport Act. READ MORE: Bakkie ambush in Tzaneen leaves one dead and nine critically injured Furthermore, Creecy urged motorists and pedestrians to remain cautious. 'Today is a big day on our roads. I want to call on everyone who is behind a wheel, everyone who is a pedestrian, everyone who is a passenger in a vehicle. 'Put your seat belts on. Reduce speed. Drive defensively. Be aware of other drivers around you on the roads. Take extra care so that if they make a mistake, you will prevent an accident from happening,' she said. The minister also appealed to parents and guardians to prioritise the safety of children on the roads. 'We want to reduce the number of children that are injured in road traffic accidents,' Creecy added.
